National student survey reveals dissatisfaction with college courses

An Ireland-wide student survey by Campus.ie has revealed that almost half of third-level students are unhappy with their chosen college course and would choose differently if given the chance to do it over again.

Campus.ie surveyed 3,894 students across Ireland to investigate their satisfaction with college education.

While 44pc of students surveyed would take a different course if they could go back and fill out the CAO again, a further 38pc felt that secondary school did not properly prepare them for college, while 66pc have considered dropping out due to stress.

Students’ dissatisfaction could stem from misinformation, as 30pc said their college prospectus did not accurately describe their course.

“At a time when careers services funding is being cut, we are seeing more students looking for alternative ways to find the right course for themselves, as is obvious here with the results showing a massive 78pc of students using sources other than career guidance services,” said Campus.ie CEO and former DIT Student Union president Bob Coggins, who urges future college students to ask around and find out everything they can before choosing a course.

The survey also asked about students’ lifestyles and revealed that working through college can be particularly distracting. Of the 56pc of students that said they were working through college, 35pc said this has resulted in missed lectures and lost study time.

Elaine Burke is managing editor of Siliconrepublic.com. She joined in 2011 as a journalist covering gadgets, new media and tech jobs news. She comes from a background in publishing and is known for being particularly persnickety when it comes to spelling and grammar – earning her the nickname, Critical Red Pen. When she hasn’t got her nose stuck in her laptop, you’ll find her in the kitchen, at the cinema, or on the dancefloor.

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